Gabon in 2008

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On Jan. 9, 2008, Interior Minister André Mba Obame suspended four groups of nongovernment organizations (NGOs), which were accused of having interfered in Gabon’s national politics after criticizing the government’s use of public funds. Two days later the government announced that in an effort to reduce expenses cabinet ministers would no longer be provided with official cars. The NGO suspension was lifted on January 15 on the condition that the organizations respect the laws governing their activities.

Against a fragmented opposition, Pres. Omar Bongo’s Gabonese Democratic Party (PDG) retained control of more than half of the seats in the district and municipal councils in the April 27 elections. The Gabonese Union for Democracy and Development (UGDD), led by Zacharie Myboto, came in second and secured 160 municipal seats. The Union of Gabonese People (UPG), chaired by Pierre Mamboundou took third. Opposition parties charged that more than 70% of eligible voters did not take part in the balloting.

On February 19 the African Development Bank agreed to loan €10 million (about $14.7 million) to finance expansion of Gabon’s rubber and palm oil plantations. The government announced on May 19 that it would donate $500,000 to aid Beijing in its massive earthquake-relief effort in Sichuan province. A week later the Gabon government and Comibel, a Chinese mining corporation, signed an agreement for the development of rich iron deposits in Gabon’s northeastern region.

Under the auspices of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, top diplomats from Gabon and Equatorial Guinea met in New York City on June 11 to negotiate a long-standing dispute over ownership of oil-rich Mbanie Island. The UN reported on July 23 that progress had been made in preparing the case for adjudication by the International Court of Justice.